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Saving Money on Car Ownership
Okay. You've followed the advice on this Web Site and worked
hard to negotiate the best deal on your new vehicle. You made certain that you weren't taken for a ride on the
financing of the car. The savings are in your pocket instead of the the dealer's. Now, how do you protect yourself
from giving back all those dollars saved in the time that you own the car?
Repairs and Maintenance. Repair costs generally will not begin until after the expiration of your
warranty, but the need for maintenance will start almost immediately so it is important to begin a regular system
of maintenance as soon as possible. The maintenance schedule should be determined by the manufacturer of the vehicle--be
wary of programs that are recommended by dealers since they often go far beyond the manufacturer's guidelines.
To a large degree, they are designed more to increase the dealer's profitability than to enhance your car's health.
Keep records of all maintenance done to your vehicle in the event that there is a warranty dispute. If you read
the fine print of any warranty--factory or otherwise--you will see that you are responsible for a regular maintenance
program (the warranty will not cover an engine that seized because it had run out of lubrication after 25,000 miles
without an oil change). Although these disputes are relatively rare, it is much better to be prepared than sorry.
Compare
before you repair. Don't let habit force you back to the dealership where you bought the vehicle. There
often can be a 5%, 10% or more difference between the same repair at competing facilities. This is especially true
when body repairs are concerned. Get estimates and make comparisons before you commit and spend more than is necessary.
Just be certain that you compare like repairs--new parts to new parts or rebuilt to rebuilt.
Another source of information to get you prepared for the types of scams and rip-offs you may encounter with auto
service is Car
Secrets. This book is packed with money (and
aggravation) saving tips on all aspects of car ownership, and is the largest selling book sold on the Internet.
You'll find ways to cut your repair costs, insurance cost and overall driving costs by up to 67%. Click here for more information.
Insurance Costs. Paying too much for your car insurance is a quick way to give back your savings--and
more--during the time that you own your vehicle. If you save $1200, for example, in combined purchase and financing
savings but spend $300 more than you need to per year in insurance costs and keep the car 5 years--guess who loses?
We've got a number of hints on keeping your car insurance costs under control in our auto insurance section.
If you would like to compare rates NetQuote has a great
service that will do that for you in a matter of minutes--and comparisons are at no cost to you. . Click here for more information.
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